Status of Nephenthes khasiana Hook. f. (Pitcher plant) in Meghalaya: A review

Abstract

Carnivorous plants derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming small insects and spiders. About 600 species of carnivorous plantsarereported to grow mainly in tropical or semi-tropical areas throughout the world. The majority of terrestrial carnivorous plants grow in bog and fen soils in which they encounter persistent unfavorable conditions. The soils where the carnivorous plants grow are characterized by very low nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and alkali ions, as well as high acidity. Nephenthes khasiana Hook f. is endemic to Meghalaya and is distributed throughout the state from West to East Khasi hills, Jaintia hills, East, West and South Garo hills from 1000 to 1500 m altitude. Habitat destruction, decimation of species and fragmentation of large contiguous populations into isolated small and scattered ones have rendered them increasingly vulnerable to inbreeding depression, high infant mortality and susceptibility to environmental change, ultimately leading to extinction. It has now become imperative to give impetus on the conservation of N. khasiana for saving this species from extinction. The present paper explains the current status of Nephenthes khasiana and ongoing work done so far in conservation, propagation and diversity estimation of the species.